TNAG-1086-FCO40-1336-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 49

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STATELESS PERSONS:

TRAVEL DOCUMENT PROCEDURES

[ LORDS ]

Baroness Elles asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will outline the procedures required to be completed for (a) a stateless person and (b) a stateless minor to obtain the travel documents en- abling that person or minor to depart from and to re-enter the United Kingdom, and what is the apprioxmate amount of time taken between the initial application and completion of such proce- dures.

Lord Belstead: A stateless person resident in the United Kingdom may apply to the Home Office for a travel document. Application forms are obtainable from the Travel Document Section of the Home Office at Lunar House, Croydon. The completed form needs to be accompanied by two certified photographs and the fee of £11. Most applications, whether from adults or minors, are currently dealt with in six to eight weeks.

THE CHARITY COMMISSION: ADVICE TO TRUSTEES

Lord Wakefield of Kendal asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the qualifications of the Charity Commission to give advice to trustees of charitable trusts who seek advice upon what is prudent or imprudent in matters of investment.

Lord Belstead: Under Section 1 of the Charities Act 1960 the Charity Commissioners have the general function of promoting the effective use of charitable resources by, inter alia, giving charity trustees advice. The Commissioners inform me that advice given to trustees who ask for guidance on investment necessarily depends on the particular circumstances, including the powers of the charity in question, but is generally based on the Commissioners' experience in financial matters, their contacts with the financial world, and all the other sources of information available to them.

NAIROBI CONFERENCE ON ENERGY SOURCES

Lord Brockway asked Her Majesty's Government:

What were the conclusions of the United Nations Conference on new sources of energy, held in Nairobi in August; how many nations attended; and what contribution to the discussions was made by the British delegation.

Lord Skelmersdale: The Nairobi Conference agreed, by consensus, to adopt a programme of action to foster the use of new and renewable sources of energy. In this context it agreed that:

-countries must adapt to a transition away from the current major dependence on oil towards other sources of energy:

Answers

-new and renewable sources of energy should

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a significant contribution, although that should not be overstated in the short term; developing countries would still need access to conventional

sources:

-national programmes, drawn up by Governments, for developing new and renewable sources of energy were of primary importance; also important was the role of the private sector:

--the objectives of the programme should be to strengthen international co-operation for the promotion of research and development and the transfer of technology: and

-a programme should be implemented calling for action in five priority areas: energy assessment and planning; information flows; research, develop- ment and demonstration; the transfer, adaptation and application of routine technology; and education and training.

Official delegates from 125 member states attended the conference, as well as representatives from a large number of international organisations and non- governmental bodies. The United Kingdom made a number of specific contributions to the conference. A national paper was prepared, setting out our approach to the use of renewables in the United Kingdom; a directory of United Kingdom expertise in the field was produced and distributed; and an exhibition was mounted, showing the United Kingdom's experience in new and renewable energy, with special reference to the needs of developing countries. In the conference itself, the British delegation played a prominent part in the discussions leading up to the adoption of the programme of action, and Mr. David Howell made a speech on behalf of the United Kingdom and, by virtue of our presidency, on behalf of the Community as a whole, in which he announced that £2 million of the United Kingdom's aid funds had been earmarked for energy planning and resource assessment in developing countries.

INVESTMENT TAXATION

Lord Wakefield of Kendal asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action is being taken to remove the anom- alies at present existing in respect of investment in building societies by (a) pension funds who receive interest payment gross, (b) charitable companies who have to incur administrative expense in reclaim- ing tax, and (c) charitable trusts who are not allowed to reclaim tax.

The Minister of State, Treasury (Lord Cockfield): It is not proposed at present to alter the existing arrangements, but I have noted the noble Lord's views.

NATO BUDGET: UK CONTRIBUTION

Lord Jenkins of Putney asked Her Majesty's Govern- ment:

What steps they are taking to reduce the high percentage of NATO's budget borne by the United Kingdom and described by the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee as neither “just nor reasonable ”.